Process of treating crude fibers and textile fabrics



Patented Mar. 11, 1930 RAINIER HERMANN POTT, F DRESDEN, GERMANY,ASSIGNOR TO CHEMISCHE FABRIK POT'I & 00., OF DRESDENN., GERMANY PROCESSOF TREATING CRUDEIIBERS AND TEXTILE FABRICS No Drawing. Applicationfiled January 22, 1923, Serial No. 614,308, and in Germany June 15, Q21

1 have filed application for Letters Patent in Germany June 15, 1921,and August 6 and 26, 1921; and in Czechoslovakia, June 13 and July 7,1922.

This invention has reference to the treatment of crude fibers ofvegetable or animal origin, and of the spun and woven or otherwiseprepared products obtained therefrom, and it is intended among "otherimportant 1 objects and advantages to provide means for more thoroughlydegreasing, wetting and softening such fibers and of very thoroughlycleaning and purifying the same, and of better preparing them for thesubsequent chem- 15 ical and mechanical treatments.

Vegetable crude fibers, particularly cotton or linen'are to be freedbefore the bleaching or dyeing stages from the pectins, the naturalplant coloring agents, incrustation substances, husks, vegetable fats,greases and similar impurities. For this purpose the fibers aresubmitted 'to a so-called scouring process, that is to say, to thedigestion under pressure for several hours in the presence of causticalkalies or alkali metal carbonates, and, if necessary, by repeatedstages. It has also been suggested already to add soaps, resin soaps,Turkey-red oil, saponified sulphonatedoils, oil or turpentine in awater-soluble form, benzine, various kinds of oils and equivalent agentsto the liquor, so as to thereby produce a more-rapid wetting and moresatisfactory emulsifying of the fats or greases.

In accordance with my invention it has been ascertained that by theaddition of hydrogenated compounds, such as are obtained by. thehydrogenation of coal tar distillation products, of lignite distillatesor distillation products from the carbonization of wood, andparticularly by the addition of hydrogenated naphthalenesjo thedigestion liquors, the said liquors during the scouring treatment he?come far niore readily adapted than without such additions to Wet, swelland penetrate the fibers, and to remove or dissolve husk fractions, veetable coloring agents, fats and the like, and o emulsify the same.Moreover, the 'fibers when boiled with scouring liquors containinghydrogenated substances referred to, becomes considerably cleaner andassume naphthalene has a considerable a whiter colorthan by thetreatment according to the previous scouring method.

These results are intensified by converting the hydro enated substancesin a suitable manner an before the addition of the same to the treatingliquor into a water soluble and water miscible condition. This may forinstance be effected by mixing the said substances with saponified fats.

Byemploying for instance from 1 to one and a half kilograms ofhydrogenated naphthalene for the scouring treatment of one thousandkilograms of crude fiber the duration required for the digestion processis reduced one third to one half. With several repeated boilings atleast one digestion may be saved. Furthermore, the amount of alkali maybe considerably reduced, to the amount of 30 per cent for instance.Notwithstanding this shortening of the digestion period and of the smallamounts of alkali required, that is to say, in spite of an importantsaving in steam, time and chemicals the goods discharged from thedigester have a considerably lighter color, and are more thoroughlyfreed from husks, fats and the like than in the previous processes, andthe fiber is far better adapted and prepared for subsequent treatmentthan in such prior processes.

The water soluble, or water miscible naphthalene is added to the liquorshortly before it is allowed to operate upon the fiber. The action isthe same when the di estion is effected with caustic alkalis or calcinedsodiumcarbonate or lime or with calcined sodium carbonate combined withthe treatment with lime. In consequence of the shortening of thealkaline digestion and the reduction of the amount of al ali employed,and in new of the fact that the hydrogenated naphthalenes do not attackthe fiber the fiber is saved from attack as compared with the usualboiling method which results in greater strength and solidity of thefiber. The hydrogenated reserving and softening action upon the fi er.The same'process may also be employed for the degreasing of crude wool.The complete removal of the natural fats of the animal fiber eitheremulsified the fats or caused the removal of the mechanical impuritiesby the enveloping of the dirt particles. An unobjectionable degreasingby means of alkali metal carbonates and soap, however, was only possibleon the one hand by the consumption of relatively large quantities ofsoap by which means the degreasing operation became very expensive, andon the other hand by the use of strong alkalis which inter fered withthesoftness and brightness of the wool. Also the extraction withsolvents,

such as carbon-bisulfide, amyl-alcohol, carbon tetra-chloride andsimilar solvents for fat failed to insure the desired results, becausein the first place the solvent'in the extracting process was imbibed inthe capillaries of the wool, thereby also dissolving the capillary fatof the wool fiber which fat is necessary for the elasticity of thefiber, thereby detracting from the softness and elasticity of the wool.On the other hand, when using carbonbisulfide for instance, the sulphurcompounds present in the wool were apparently attacked,

and the wool became yellow and unfit for use,

gartly by additional interior decompositions.

appeared from the industry of wool Washing.

By means 'of the process of this invention, however, it has becomepossible to degrease the wool in an advantageous manner by a chemicalmethod and in aqueous solution and with great economy, and without inany way inj urin-g the Wool, in a very eflicierit and unobjecti'onablemanner.

Hydrogenated compounds and in particular the hydrogenated naphthalenes,as dis- 3 tinguished from the ordinary naphthalenes when added in smallamounts to the liquors for degreasing and treating wool, remove all thefats of the Wool as well as their very resisting and unsapon'ifiablecompounds, even from wool that has been exposed to air' for a long time.Because ofthe high boiling point of these substances, there is no dangerof the same evaporating. Furthermore, such sub stances do not attack thecapillary fat at the expense of theelasticity of the wool. At the sametime the possibility of the wool being rendered yellowish in color or ofthe solvent settling to the bottom of the degreasing tank is avoided. Ithas been found, on the conuch processes have therefore entirely dis-.

msaese trary, thatafter the treatment with the hy drogenatednaphthalenes the wool is delivered to the drying machine, succeeding thedegreasing bath, in a considerably whiter condition than heretofore,

The degreasing operation itself may be carried out with hydrogenatednaphthalenes in aqueous solution, particularly in the case of wools veryrich in fat, and possessing only little mechanicalimpurities. There isno need of any fear of hardening of the woolen fiber without the use ofsoaps, inasmuch as the hydrogenated naphthalenes apparently in View oftheir oil-like'nature, produce a softening action similar to'soap.

In the case of those kinds of wools which contain a,- large amount ofmechanical impurities, such as dirt, burrs and the like, it is ofadvantage to assist the meehanical cleaning in this direction by theaddition of some soap. But also with this kind of wool not more than, atthe utmost, half of the amount of soap heretofore used, is necessary,and in this case also the amount of alkali may be considerably reduced,so as to better preserve the woolen fiber and to generally improve thecondition-of the wool. It is of great advantage in the process accordingto my invention that the hydrogenatednaphthalenes, aside from their owngreat fat dissolving properties for all kinds of fats and greases, bybeing mixed with sapon ified fats become soluble in aqueous fatemulsions and soap solutions obtained from any kind of fats and greases.These solutions of fats and hydrogenated naphthalenes or of soaps andhydrogenated naphthalenes are likewise adapted to dissolve fats and oilsof all kinds, saponifiable and unsaponifiable waxes andithe like inalmost any desired quantities. Particularly wool. fat and bees-wax forinstance are readily and permanently and most finely emulsified or keptin solution in the presence of small amount of alkalimetal-carbonates'in these solutions from soaps and hydrogenatednaphthalenes. It, therefore, appears from the general behaviorof'hydrogenated naphthalenes that the dc- .greasing of the crude woolwith these agents takes place considerably more quickly and moreelliciently than according to the previous processes with alkali metalcarbonates and soap. Nor is it necessary to provide for as slow awashing process as possible, as is the case with the soap processes, andone is, therefore, enabled to produce a far higher daily output with thecontinuous washing machines. Also in the case of finished tissues andtextile fabrics the new process may be used to great advantage. smallquantities of hydrogenated naphthalenes, which have been previquslyconverted into water miscible condition by beingniixed with a quantityof saponified fats, in bleaching, dyeing and sizing opera- The use ofl"the vegetable fiber, so that the bleaching more liquor is adapted topermeate the goods d quickly than it was possible heretofore,

- in view thereof to produce a far more unlform and quicker action. Onthe other hand the, addition, or hydrogenated naphthalenes hasa fatdissolving action, so that any adhering particles of fat which wouldinterfere with the operation of the bleaching liquor are dissolved,furthermore, the hydrogenated naphthalenes also operate as catalyzersand very efii'cient oxygen carriers, so that the bleaching action of thechloride of lime is, greatly intensified. As a result thereof thebleaching process is considerably shortened or the chloride of limesolution may be less concentrated. The duration of the bleaching processor the strength of the solution of chloride of lime may be reduced about30 per cent on an average. Aside from this economy and betterpreservation of the fiber the bleaching action is rendered more uniform.The fiber thus treated possesses greater resistibility against tearing,and the dusting of the fiber is reduced.

In the dying of vegetable raw fibers and the like it has been found thatthe addition of hydrogenated naphthalenes in the different dyeingprocesses presents the following advantages. In consequence of the greatadvantages realized by the employment of the hydrogenated naphthalenesthe dyeing agents may penetrate more quickly and umformly into thefiber, so that more brillant and deeper shades may be obtained. In thecase of difiicultly soluble dyes it is also of advantage to add smallamounts of hydrogenated naphthalenes to the dyeing liquor, in order toproduce a more uniform solutionand disintegration of the dyeing agent.These advantages are of particular. importance in the dyeing of sizedfabrics in which process the goods are treated inthe compressedcondition and tightly packed in dyeing apparatuses with a circulatingdyeing liquor, inasmuch as with the addition of hydrogenatednaphthalenes uniform and, intimate impregnation of the fiber with thedyeing agent is insured and lack of uniformity in the colorations isavoided.

,Also in the case of the dyeing of delicate shades in whicln-asheretofore practiced, the dyeing was effected in the presence of soapsor oils or of sulphonated oils'and their soaps hydrogenated naphthaleneis of advantage in view of the properties above referred to. On anaverage from 106 to 150 grammes of hydrogenated naphthalene are usuallysufiicient for each 100 kilograms of the raw goods. In the dyeing ofvegetable fibers with sulphurdyes it has been ascertained, moreover,that hydrogenated naphthalenes in the subsequent treatment of the dyedfabrics produce the effect of destroyingthe undesirable bronze tinge ofthe dyes and tints of the superposed shades, particularly in the case ofsulphur black and sulphur blue, and to restore the natural brilliancy tothe colors and the softness to the fibers.

In the employment of hydrogenated naphthalenes in connection withfinishing processes it has been found that the finishing orsi'zingmaterial in accordance with the new process is better adapted touniformly permeate and impregnate the fiber, by which means unevenfinishing of the goods is prevented. On the other hand the new processproduces a dissolving and disintegrating action upon the finishingmasses, and makes it possible, particularly in the case of fats, soaps,waxes and the like being contained in the finishing material for theproduction of certain special finishing effects, that such additions arealso uniformly retained within the finishing material, and remainpermanently mixed therewith. Thus, precipitation of these substances isprevented, and the formation of specky stripes, of undesirable stainsand ofuneven finishing effects is avoided. An additional advantage isthe softening action of the hydrogenated naphthalenes upon the vegetablefiber.

The hydrogenated compounds referred to are also particularly welladapted for the degreasing of yarns and of tissues from animal fibers,for instance woollen yarns and woollen fabrics of all kinds, so as toremove therefrom thegreases remaining from the spinning process, andthey are well adapted for the removal of saponifiable and unsaponifiablematter, and even of mineral oils and waste products from the gas and tarmanufacturing industries in aqueous solution and by chemical means. Alsoin this case the degreasing may be generally effected without the use ofsoaps. A further advantage of the employment of the hydrogenatednaphthalenes for the degreasing of yarns, textile fabrics and the likefrom animal fibers consists in the fact that in view of the veryconsiderable wetting action of their own produced by the hydrogenatednaphthalencs the material may act directly upon the fats, asdistinguished from the mechanical action of the soap, by which meansdegreasing is rapidly and efficiently effected, and it becomes possiblethereby to shorten the degreasing procedure and to effect a saving indetergents, while the subsequent rinsing stage may, be commenced withgreater strength and force' of liquid, so as to be able to shorten therinsing period one half of the usual time. which in the case of themechanical soap treatment, would entail the danger thatthe soap and theemulsified fats are again deposited With the dust in the material to.betreated. It has also been ascertained that the hydrogenatednaphthalenes, as distinguished from other solvents, such as for instancehydro-carbons of the aromatic and of the aliphatic series or ofchlorinated hydrocarbons and the like, aside from their peculiar wettingaction, produce a particular action upon the aniline dyestuffs withwhich the yarns or textile fabrics or parts of the same have beenstained. After the treatment with hydrogenated naphthalenes thesubstances and articles mentioned are greatly increased in clearness andbrilliancy, and by this means multicolored effects for instance arebrought out on the material with great brilliancy. Then, it has beenfound that hydrogenated naphthalenes in contradistinction to the greasesolvents-above referred to, do not prevent the fulling action, that isto say, the curling of the small scales on the woollen capillary tube,and the felting of the wool, so that the degreasing may also be carriedout upon the cylinder machine simultaneously with the fulling processwith outdifiiculty. Any volatilization of the hydrogenated naphthalenesduring the degreasing operation, even in case higher temperatures areproduced in the fulling operation by the strong compression of thetextile fabrics by the action of the fulling rollers, is obviated by thecomparatively high boiling point of the hydro-naphthalenes, so that thehydrogenated naphthalenes remain fully active up to the final stages ofthe treatment.

The invention has been described herein in its broad aspects, and I wishit to be-understood that it is susceptible of various modes ofapplication and modifications, so as to adapt the invention to varyinglocal and other conditions and to the convenience of the operator, andwithout deviating from the spirit of the invention,- as defined by thescope of the claims. .Thus, the favorable action of the hydrogenatedhydro-carbons may also be utilized in the making of reserves, printingof fabrics, and it is also applicable to mixtures of vegetable andanimal fibers.

I claim 1. The process of treating textile material, which comprisestreating such material with an emulsion comprised of a hydrogenatednaphthalene and a quantity of saponified fatty substancessuflicient torender the hydrogenated-naphthalene Water miscible.

2. lhe process of treating textile material, which comprises treatingsuch material with an emulsion comprised of tetrahydronapht-hal'ene anda quantity of saponified fatty substancessuflicient .to render thetetrahydronaphthalene water miscible.

3. The process of treating textile material, which comprises treatingsuch material with used being from 0.1 to 0.15 percent of the weight oftextile material.

RAINER POTT.

